Typing in the morning, before anyone else is awake...
It's funny...there are so many people starting the Camino in or near Sarria since we're now only 115 kilometers from Santiago (one only needs to walk the last 100 kilometers in order to get the Compostela). Many new people are asking about the girls...these folks have not seen us on the trails during the past five weeks...the girls are being patient with all the questions.
Hard to believe we are almost in Santiago. Only four or five more days to go, including today.
Regarding our albergue in Sarria...the noise from the kitchen traveled straight upstairs to the sleeping area. It sounded like people were dining and loudly talking right next to us. Though our room was large, the hospitalera kind, and the building and patio attractive, the kitchen noise was a problem early in the evening. I could hear every gulp, chew, and burp. Los Blasones is a lovely albergue, but try not to get a private room right above the kitchen if you stay there.
Leaving Sarria...
It was another day of walking through beautiful countryside. Stone walls, pastures, wildflowers, rolling hills...lovely. The walking felt easy due to the overcast sky (no heat or sunburn) and cool breezes. Also...we had trees!! We walked through more trees today then we've seen during all our previous Camino days combined. 'Twas a lovely walk through rural Galicia.
100 kilometers 'til Santiago!
Onward!
We approached the city of Portomarin...
...crossed the bridge...
?..went up the steps and under the arch...
...and then wandered around trying to find the Camino. Oops..the Camino doesn't actually go through Portomarin. There are a bunch of albergues in Portomarin and the town looks like an interesting place to spend the day, but we had no desire to stop here. Eventually, we found our Way and pressed onward.
Up through the woods, over a couple of hills, and on to the teensy town of Gonzar.
The girls still appreciate the windflowers after walking 18.5 miles.
Entering the town...
We're currently in the private albergue Casa Garcia. We have two private doubles for thirty-five Euros each. The hospitalera is extremely kind and the rooms are bright, big, and beautiful. There is no WiFi here (or in the entire town), so I'll have to post this tomorrow morning from somewhere else.
The girls did well today - a 19 mile day after a 17 mile day...they seem determined to finish with Hugh. It's possible...that would be three more 18 mile days to Santiago. Alex and Sage walk fast (we arrived at our albergue today around 3), and they've both built up incredible endurance, so finishing with Hugh might actually happen. Hugh doesn't expect it, though...neither he nor I want the girls to feel pushed into walking more daily miles than they want to walk. That being said, once my daughters decide they want to go for something, they usually go for it with immense determination and gusto. We'll see what happens.
85 kilometers (about 53 miles) to Santiago.
Misc. comments - there's marinated styrofoam...uh, I mean FLAN...offered for desert on every pilgrim's menu in every town on the Camino. Does anyone actually like flan? Does anyone ever order it? We'll stick with the cheesecake, torte de Santiago, ice cream, and rice pudding, thanks.
My left leg - the one with the extensive (and old) blood clot - has not bothered me once during this entire trip. I'll write more about that once we reach Santiago and I have a day or two to reflect.
Half a bottle of wine every single day for thirty-seven days straight. Giant three-course meal every evening. Every day I wake up with a clear head and hungry stomach. And I've lost weight. Good, wholesome, unprocessed food, usually locally grown. Local vineyards, local cows, local everything. I'm going to miss the way I eat and drink on the Camino.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
3 comments:
Hehe. I love love LOVE flan! Box yours up and send it to me! Enjoying your blog. You're almost there! Hooray!
I also love flan. It shouldn't be like styrofoam so now you have me curious to try flan from Spain.
I noticed your daughters have been wearing their sandals and shape-ups for most of their walk. It makes me think that worrying over foot wear is overated and if it works for me at home it will work for me in Spain.
Curious if your daughter wore her old worn out socks and if so have they worn out yet?
Terri
I love flan too. It's one of the best things about Spanish cuisine. If it's done right, of course, which the flan they've been serving you might not be, if it seems like styrofoam.
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